Trane Decade Box Built For Cheap HVAC Test Mode Box

Speed up your HVAC diagnostic tests on the Trane packaged equipment with a custom-built Trane decade box. See how I designed and built it for a lot less money than purchasing it.
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[@HVACRSurvival]

I'm looking for great new topics to cover on my upcoming videos, if your idea is used I'll be mentioning you in that video as the VIP contributor. Thanks again faithful subscribers!

[@davejohnsonnola2758]

Good to see you back on!

[@HVACRSurvival]

Thanks Dave, Hope I can make it interesting for everyone.

[@joshuapoche5137]

I'm a commercial hvac tech and work on a lot of tranes. You think you could do a video using this box. I've never needed one but if it's a better faster way of troubleshooting I'd try it.

[@HVACRSurvival]

I will see if I can do a demonstration.

[@mwdub02]

Thanks for making this long awaited video Rick!

[@HVACRSurvival]

You're welcome!

[@mwdub02]

N.W. Ohio HVAC Videos What’s good Rick? You haven’t been making videos lately bro. I hope you don’t get discouraged because of the number of views. Nothing happens overnight my brother. I always say your channel is underrated big time but that should deter from making more videos bro. I’ll be waiting like many others. 👍🏻

[@HVACRSurvival]

@@mwdub02 it's hard to make videos when your not allowed to record at work. That means I have to resort to making them at home or places that are not customers of my company. There's others issues to but can't go into them on here

[@NorCal-refrigeration]

Excellent job on the decade box 👍🤘

[@HVACRSurvival]

Thanks Super Dave👍🏻

[@gregob-team4642]

Stoked you're back Rick. It would be nice to see a demonstration video of your homemade troubleshooting device.

[@HVACRSurvival]

Thanks man! I appreciate that. I'll see what I can do. I'm limited when I can record video.

[@lee-johnson]

Nice work. I made one a long time ago with.a potentiometer. Works good for many temp sensors and to simulate different outdoor temperatures and indoor temperatures for chillers.

[@HVACRSurvival]

I thought about doing that also. I think it would be more useful for the temp sensors as you mentioned. It'd be a good way to bypass the circuitry while you're doing your testing. Thanks for commenting and watching! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@crforfreedom7407]

Right on..... I'm just starting, but I'm glad I'm watching this...

[@HVACRSurvival]

WORD! LoL, What would you like to see in an upcoming video?

[@crforfreedom7407]

@@HVACRSurvival As a newbie, you could throw some solder on an evaporator and I'd be like "WOW!!! 😮 Anything Rick. The Annie was a great idea. Those things are getting rare as hen's teeth, and IDK how possible it'd be to build one, but I'd love to have one. Some Superbowl Sunday night at 9, I'd like to be able to jar the compressor loose and have it run till Monday morning, ya know?!!? Anything buddy. Hungry for knowledge.....🍽 Glad to see you're getting suggestions from others. See? It's just the beginning.....👍

[@gene-khvacr]

Glad to see you posting and sharing, word to the wise " its hard to beat a person who never gives up ! moving forward sir 👍😎

[@HVACRSurvival]

I'm giving it a try! The number of views will tell me if it's working. Thanks for the positive out look, it means a lot. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@deafhvacrsocal5292]

Pretty neat test mode box...I never think about building for cheap than buy expensive. If you decide to sell test box, holler at me ;) Man that was really great informative and educational video. Thank you.

[@HVACRSurvival]

Thank you sir!

[@RayRay-nb7tn]

Great video on this tool item. Many different things you can do to make work easier. How about a homemade ANNIE? THANK YOU FOR THE VIDEO. HVAC ON!!

[@HVACRSurvival]

Great idea! My oem Annie break down plus how to make a custom made tester. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@crforfreedom7407]

@@HVACRSurvival Great Idea! Love to see you build one of those!

[@davejohnsonnola2758]

This!!

[@kennybaker16]

I will definitely second this post. Thanks rick for everything you do bud

[@HVACRVIDEOS]

Great idea Rick I've always wanted to build one of these.

[@HVACRSurvival]

Thanks Chris, It makes it quicker to know what does and doesn't work while testing. I seen better layout since I built it but You never find that when you look for examples. 👍🏻

[@superiorcomfortheatingairl3373]

Good seeing you back my friend, you mention ideas for videos, just share your wealth of knowledge, doesn’t matter what the topic is

[@HVACRSurvival]

Lol, I know nothing...🙄

[@HVACRSurvival]

In all seriousness, I appreciate the concern and support!

[@thehvachacker]

I was considering bringing resisters to work to play around with the voyagers. You explained the soldering now I just need to try and practice.

[@HVACRSurvival]

It's a skill that definitely takes practice when you want to learn how to do surface mount technology with a traditional soldering station. The Eevblog is a really good channel. There's a lot of good videos on it.

[@patrickg7569]

Been watching your videos awhile now. I work in the electronics field but am in my second HVACR fundamentals class. Still have a lot to learn so I like to watch a lot of theory and how things work type of videos. I still watch videos on the basic refrigeration cycle to reinforce it! Haha

[@HVACRSurvival]

Right on, I took down my video of how I got in the field that mentioned that electronics was my 1st pick prior to HVAC, I need to re-record it like several of my videos without showing who I work for. Back on subject, great idea sir! 👍🏻👍🏻 Thanks for the ideas.

[@steve19841117]

good job Rick thank you for share

[@HVACRSurvival]

Thanks, bud!

[@Rodzilla408]

Nice black box Rick lol. I would be great if we can see that in action. I read a comment that you'll try to get a demo on it. That would be great.

[@HVACRSurvival]

I need to find somebody that has Trane equipment that's not a customer of my company to do the test. (I think we might have some Trane equipment at our church). I'm planning on using my resources so I can follow the rules, yet still keep the channel worth watching.

[@whitesheatingairappliancer7101]

Nice video thank you. Great project.

[@HVACRSurvival]

Thanks Ron! I appreciate you watching!

[@ForkLiftCertified]

What a great video, very informative.

[@HVACRSurvival]

Thanks so much, Scott! Do you have any future video ideas?

[@ForkLiftCertified]

Any thoughts or opinions on the DIY mini split systems? Never heard of such a thing till I saw a handyman install one.

[@HVACRSurvival]

@@ForkLiftCertified I seen some of the ridiculous commercials. I'll have to take a look at it closer to see what all it entails. Thank you for the ideas !

[@RJMaker]

Pretty slick.. Thank you.

[@HVACRSurvival]

You're very welcome! Any ideas for my upcoming videos?

[@apr9286]

Rick do a video on this device you built in action.

[@dizziedallas]

Really Nice video, thank you for posting.

[@HVACRSurvival]

Thanks Dizz👍🏻👍🏻

[@20315711978]

Awesome.

[@garydudgeon]

Pretty neat! Great video.

[@HVACRSurvival]

Thanks I appreciate you watching Gary!

[@dankerr2973]

Nice job great video

[@HVACRSurvival]

Thanks Dan, any ideas for another topic of interest?

[@apprenticephil649]

Have you made a hard start kit for compressors? My work colleague has and I am amazed by it. This looks more involved. . Amazing video. I'm glad you're still keeping the channel an I would love to see you recreate crazy service calls and relate a lesson to them. Thanks and keep up,the great work.

[@HVACRSurvival]

It's been forever but I use to have 3 large start capacitors wired in parallel that equaled to what I would guess was somewhere around 750-900mfd, it would make the compressor wiggle. Lol I could go into what the capacitor is actually doing to the sign wave. 👍🏻👍🏻 Great ideas Phil! Thanks for ridding along man!

[@jonnymac31]

Dig it man. Nice.

[@HVACRSurvival]

Thank you for watching! Any ideas for my upcoming videos?

[@jonnymac31]

@@HVACRSurvival not in particular. I just enjoy the day to day calls guys post. Its cool to see the variety each channel brings. Its fun to unwind for a bit at night and see what other guys are up to.

[@jonnymac31]

@@HVACRSurvival hey also if your thinking about hittin up a komets game this season or get in the Fort Wayne area let me know. It'd be cool to meet up.

[@quinnmath4722]

Just made one, but mine has led lights , and. A power source lol ;) , trying to run a lcd display also hahah..

[@jyphc1679]

Should do what tool you need to be HVACR apprentice tool bag & tools review 👍👍👍 or do review Case study and the compressor What caused it to fail I see all tech when Compressor is not good they just replace it with new one they never find out the cause to fail I know it takes long time to cut open the compressor But it will be very educational to see which component that fail and what Cause it to fail .

[@HVACRSurvival]

Right on! Thanks, JYP!!

[@ScrewedUpEssayLatin]

We will have to ship you a bad compressor to you😂

[@HVACRSurvival]

@@ScrewedUpEssayLatin I have some. 🙄👍🏻👍🏻

[@ScrewedUpEssayLatin]

Just supporting you. 🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@HVACRSurvival]

@@ScrewedUpEssayLatin Na, I know you are and I appreciate all of my viewers that have taken the time to message me and push me to keep going. It's great to be appreciated and an honor to be one of the guys that has an opportunity to share some of my experience with others.

[@OcRefrig]

Good vid. i like your old box better. i would put a magnet on old box and longer leads. You could build em and sell them if u wanted. or make one for a giveaway fof your channell. sorry to hear u cant video on your jobs , but i can understand bosses perspective. video takes time & he does not pay u to video , he pays u to work. But, if He Was a smart boss He might give u some flexibility if he understood that it gave u some satisfaction or made u happy. also could be used for job verification. a Happier employee is worth more than a few dollars lost in time as long as u were not spending excessive time videoing. U could allways do videos on --- 1) How u roll into a job --- toolcarts , tool transport ideas , tool organization ideas. i Personally Have found Videoing some jobs has opened up my eyes to different parts failing , as it slows me down to take a better look at some jobs , also a closer look. also reviewing it i can spot things not seen on the job. it aldo gives me models & serials for parts etc. for future too. also it time stamps a repair for my future review. All in All , Videoing --- Has Made me a Better tech.

[@HVACRSurvival]

You're absolutely right about catching things that you probably missed while you were there on-site, I still document anything of concern like I have been since I started HVAC. Two of my favorite sayings is "Make it happen" and "If you want to be successful help someone succeed." Soooo....that's what I'm going to do.👍🏻👍🏻

[@clintglasgow5633]

👍

[@crforfreedom7407]

I can see where having these specific resistances at hand would be a real time-saver in the field. And it doesn't look like it would be too tough of a project to try, or too awful expensive to build. How hard was it to keep the resistors in place with the wire while you soldered?

[@HVACRSurvival]

Not hard. I have a helping hand clamp you can buy at harbor freight cheap. ?$5-8. Pre solder each piece is key.

[@crforfreedom7407]

@@HVACRSurvival Cool. I'll check it out. Thanks Rick!

[@randomrefrigeration4564]

The decade box is cool. I was thinking of building one last year. I looked for plans online but they all seemed kind of hard to put together. After seeing yours I think it’s not as bad as I thought. I will let you know how mine turns out. I think you had previously done a video on leak detectors. I have a h-10, a detech select another dtek that takes d cell batteries and finally I just picked up a Tif ZX. How about doing another one or can you put that one back up??? I promise I want argue with anyone else. I give no excuses it was not a moment I was proud of.

[@HVACRSurvival]

I will probably need to re-record it. Technically anything that I recorded on the clock had to come down and anything that was a customer of the companies had to come down.

[@randomrefrigeration4564]

I understand that. There are so many videos that you could do like time clocks, thermostats, pump down systems, and all the different ice machines out there. That’s just s few things off the top of my head. I think there are a lot of us out here that would enjoy it and can really use to advance the trade

[@randomrefrigeration4564]

I will keep it on my mind and whatever I come up with I will send it your way. Thanks a lot

[@hvacir9176]

i need to save your videos before you remove them :D

[@HVACRSurvival]

Just don't repost my prior ones if you find them. 🧐 there in a witness protection program. 👮‍♂️🕵️‍♂️